The insults were flowing like beer at a Delta house kegger. Arizona State's student section, armed with cheat sheets of background info on opposing players and seated behind the visiting team's bench, turned its attention to Gregg Guenther. "A moron, this one guy called me a moron," said the USC senior power forward. Said his mother Cheri, "They were saying, 'Guenther, you're a quitter ... you didn't get a ring. Get off the court.' I was boiling. It kind of brings tears to your eyes.

Gregg Guenther could only smile at the pageantry around him in Heritage Hall. It's rivalry week and USC is preparing to face UCLA in football, but Guenther left that part of his life behind last summer. Guenther, who came to USC in 2000 on a football scholarship and joined the basketball team after the bowl season three years running, traded in his shoulder pads for good when he became a scholarship basketball player.

Gregg Guenther could only smile at the pageantry around him in Heritage Hall. It's rivalry week and USC is preparing to face UCLA in football, but Guenther left that part of his life behind last summer. Guenther, who came to USC in 2000 on a football scholarship and joined the basketball team after the bowl season three years running, traded in his shoulder pads for good when he became a scholarship basketball player.

Gregg Guenther, who played football and basketball for USC the last three years, will probably play only basketball this season, Trojan football coaches said Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 Guenther finished last season as the starting tight end after Dominique Byrd suffered a season-ending knee injury. Guenther, who averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19 games last season as a forward-center for the basketball team, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Gregg Guenther was taken aback when reporters told the backup football tight end-turned-starting basketball power forward that he had recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. "I did? I was worried about winning," said Guenther, who also had a career-best three steals, and two assists in 27 minutes during the Trojans' 86-59 loss at No. 1 Arizona. "I never even looked up at the scoreboard until late in the game.

Gregg Guenther, a 6-foot-8 football and basketball standout at Crespi High, has decided to transfer to Taft under open enrollment. Guenther, who will be a senior, is the most high-profiled athlete at the Encino campus. He is a defensive end and tight end being recruited by Washington and Notre Dame. He also was expected to start for a Celt basketball team considered co-favorite with Chaminade to win the Mission League next season.

Gregg Guenther, a 6-foot-7 junior center at Crespi High, has been cleared to begin working out after spending two months on the sideline because of a broken foot. Crespi coaches hope Guenther can play Jan. 11 in a Mission League game against Alemany. WATER POLO Stephanie Hammer of Valley College has been selected most valuable player and Wonmeen Jun has been picked coach of the year in the Western State Conference.

Gregg Guenther, less than 24 hours removed from winning the Rose Bowl and a probable share of a national championship with the USC football team, noticed something different the moment he walked into the Trojan basketball team's locker room Friday. Missing was that self-assurance that permeates the football team, the tight end-power forward said. "The basketball team," Guenther said, "is still not quite sure if it's a true confidence or if they're just talking themselves into it.

Sure, there was a sense of disappointment in USC's locker room after the Trojans' lackluster showing in an 83-64 loss Saturday at California. But there was no sense of impending doom. Rather, there was optimism among the 20th-ranked Trojans, who had dropped out of a first-place tie in the Pacific 10 Conference and into a three-way tie for second. "We've lost before and bounced back with a win," senior power forward Sam Clancy said. "And that's what I expect against Oregon this week."

Gregg Guenther, who played football and basketball for USC the last three years, will probably play only basketball this season, Trojan football coaches said Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 Guenther finished last season as the starting tight end after Dominique Byrd suffered a season-ending knee injury. Guenther, who averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19 games last season as a forward-center for the basketball team, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Gregg Guenther, less than 24 hours removed from winning the Rose Bowl and a probable share of a national championship with the USC football team, noticed something different the moment he walked into the Trojan basketball team's locker room Friday. Missing was that self-assurance that permeates the football team, the tight end-power forward said. "The basketball team," Guenther said, "is still not quite sure if it's a true confidence or if they're just talking themselves into it.

Gregg Guenther, a reserve tight end turned starting power forward, insisted he had no longing in his heart Tuesday. Not even with the USC football team, which finished ranked fourth nationally, beginning spring practice and the basketball squad stuck in a six-game losing streak. "This is my team right now so I'm just going to go out there and try and win," said Guenther, who is on a football scholarship but joined the basketball team Jan.

Gregg Guenther was taken aback when reporters told the backup football tight end-turned-starting basketball power forward that he had recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. "I did? I was worried about winning," said Guenther, who also had a career-best three steals, and two assists in 27 minutes during the Trojans' 86-59 loss at No. 1 Arizona. "I never even looked up at the scoreboard until late in the game.

USC lost four games on last-second shots last season and it has happened twice this season. The Trojans also have lost three games this season after blowing double-digit leads. USC Coach Henry Bibby found a solution to the team's late-game problems Saturday, at least for one game, and from an unlikely source -- the roster of the Trojans' Orange Bowl championship football team.

Gregg Guenther has an Orange Bowl victory on his resume. Now the two-sport USC athlete has a basketball win to add to his collection. Guenther, a backup tight end on the football team who joined the basketball team on Jan. 6, made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to give the Trojans a 76-74 win over Arizona State at the Sports Arena on Saturday night.

Gregg Guenther, a reserve tight end turned starting power forward, insisted he had no longing in his heart Tuesday. Not even with the USC football team, which finished ranked fourth nationally, beginning spring practice and the basketball squad stuck in a six-game losing streak. "This is my team right now so I'm just going to go out there and try and win," said Guenther, who is on a football scholarship but joined the basketball team Jan.

Gregg Guenther, a defensive end and tight end at Taft High, has committed to USC. A 6-foot-8, 255-pounder, Guenther said he chose USC over UCLA, Ohio State and Michigan. "I really like Coach [Paul] Hackett and his staff," Guenther said. "I really feel like they're on the way back up." Guenther, who also cited proximity to home as a reason for his decision, is known for his ability to stop the run. Also a top basketball player, Guenther transferred to Taft from Crespi after the last school year.

Sure, there was a sense of disappointment in USC's locker room after the Trojans' lackluster showing in an 83-64 loss Saturday at California. But there was no sense of impending doom. Rather, there was optimism among the 20th-ranked Trojans, who had dropped out of a first-place tie in the Pacific 10 Conference and into a three-way tie for second. "We've lost before and bounced back with a win," senior power forward Sam Clancy said. "And that's what I expect against Oregon this week."

In football, size matters. Just ask Gregg Guenther of Taft High. When you're closing in on 6-foot-9, weigh 260 pounds and have hands soft as feather pillows, it doesn't matter that you've had only six catches in your high school career. College coaches will line up to sign you to a letter of intent based on potential alone. "If I was a Division I coach, I'd take him in a minute," said Tim Lins, who coached Guenther as a junior at Crespi.